How real estate agencies can prepare for Australia’s new AML/CTF requirements

From July 1 2026, all real estate sales agencies will become reporting entities under Australia’s expanded Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regime. This reform represents one of the biggest regulatory shifts the real estate industry has ever seen, placing agencies as a frontline defender against financial crime.

While these reforms require major shifts to how agencies operate, understanding what’s changing and why lays a foundation for confident an effective compliance.

What’s driving the reform

As real estate sales have significant transaction values and potential for complex ownership structures, the industry has been identified as a vulnerable area for money laundering.

Think of it like this: criminals use real estate to clean 'dirty' money, disguising illegal funds as seemingly legitimate property investments. Previously, banks were the main point of control, tasked with stopping this. Now, the government is officially expecting the real estate industry to help. The change also aligns Australia with international AML standards.

What agencies will be required to do

From July 1, all sales agencies will need to meet a series of ongoing obligations, such as:

• Registering with AUSTRAC
• Implementing an AML/CTF Program
• Conducting identity verification and customer due diligence
• Assessing and managing risk associated with all property sale transactions
• Reporting suspicious matters and threshold transactions
• Maintaining complete records and demonstrating ongoing compliance

Why agencies should aim to be prepared early

While these changes may just seem like paperwork, they require new processes, training of staff and the right tools to ensure compliance. One of the earliest milestones is AUSTRAC registration, which opens on 31 March 2026. This is an ideal starting point for agencies looking to stay ahead of the curve.

What does registering with AUSTRAC do?

Registering with AUSTRAC means that agencies will be officially recognised as a reporting entity under the AML/CTF Act. While compliance goes well beyond registration, it does signal that an agency is taking the right steps toward meeting their obligations.

How can Reapit Verify support?

Most AML solutions on the market were designed for banks and gambling operators - not real estate. They sit outside the core sales workflow, require double data entry and rely on manual processes that create data security gaps.

Reapit Verify is purpose-built for real estate - to simplify the core compliance tasks real estate agencies will need to perform once registered, from customer due diligence to record‑keeping and audit trails. Our goal is to make compliance part of the workflow, not an extra burden on teams.

How can agencies prepare now?

While registration isn’t open just yet, there are a number of things an agency can start on now to ensure early preparation:

• Appoint a Compliance Officer - This might be an existing team member that will manage reporting to AUSTRAC, or someone hired specifically for the role.
• Build internal awareness - Agency teams need to understand what’s changing and why - partnering with a AML/CTF Training Provider or Consultant is a great way to do this. Reapit is working with an AML/CTF training and consulting provider to bring our clients an end-to-end solution. Register for our webinar series to learn more.
• Choose an AML/CTF technology provider early - Ensuring the right tools are in place for Day 1 will make compliance that much easier - agencies can lock in their July start with Reapit Verify here.

More information

• Learn more about Reapit Verify here.
• Register for our live webinar on February 26th, where we’ll talk through the reforms and give you an early look at Reapit Verify.
• Schedule your start with Reapit Verify from May to secure your onboarding window.

This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. For specific compliance requirements, we recommend consulting a qualified legal or compliance professional.

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